Praying In The Spirit

Ephesians 6:17-20

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel,

20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

How do we pray in the Spirit? First, we need the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. We need to know that we are children of God. And God is our Father in heaven. We come to Him on this one basis. Not because we belong to a church, a special or elite group, or a prophetic and apostolic club etc. We come to pray on this fact that we are saved. Our salvation is in Christ alone. He is the Way we come to the Father.

To pray in the Spirit, we need the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. His kingdom come. His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. When we pray according to the Word of God, we are praying in line with the desires of the Holy Spirit.

Praying in the Spirit may or may not be in tongues. Most of the times, it will be groanings that cannot be uttered. Yes, in wordless groans.

Romans 8:26
Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

The Holy Spirit will help us in our daily life and problems, and also in our prayers. For we don’t even know what we should pray or how we should pray, but the Holy Spirit will help us to pray with such prayers that cannot be expressed in words.

Remember Jesus. He prayed alone by withdrawing Himself to solitary and quiet places like mountains and deserts, and even the Garden of Gethsemane to seek communion with God.

Mark 1:35
Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.

Jesus prayed alone. And very often, quietly. With words that cannot be uttered.

That’s why His disciples asked Him to teach them how and what to pray. I believe they had heard some of His prayers but they might not have understood them.

Matthew 6:5-13
5 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.
6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.
8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.
9 In this manner, therefore, pray:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
10 Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
13 And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

About prayer, we must not be like the hypocrites who pretend to be righteous and holy by praying publicly and loudly on street corners and in the churches or meetings where everyone can see and hear them. Truly, those are all the rewards they will ever get. Earthly gains of pride and recognition but no heavenly rewards.

But when we pray, we go away from the crowds and be all alone by ourselves. Shutting the door behind us, and praying to our Father secretly. And our Father, who knows our secrets, will reward us. God knows our weaknesses, problems and requests even before we utter to Him in prayers.

We do not recite the same prayers over and over as the heathen do, thinking that prayers are answered only by repeating them again and again. Remember this that our Father knows exactly what we need even before we ask Him!

And we pray the prayer that our Lord taught His disciples.

Ephesians 6:18 tells all believers to pray at all times in the Spirit, with all kinds of prayers. Staying alert with all perseverance, and praying for all of God's people.

Praying at all times. Even while travelling in the cars, taxis, buses and trains, walking and talking with God. Everywhere we go, we pray. In everything we do, we pray. Praying in the Spirit quietly.

Remember Jesus. How He prayed for the Israelites, the Romans, the unholy priests and the unrighteous Pharisees, the wicked people, and the poor, sick and needy.

In our days, how do we pray? For our nation, the nations, Israel, the churches, the Christians, the earthquakes, the tsunamis, the hurricanes, the typhoons, the crises, the social problems and ills, the injustices, the wickedness, the heartaches and brokenness, the wars, the bombings, the deaths, the destructive damages and injuries etc.

When we pray in the Spirit, we will not become extremely right or left. We will also not become extremely high and mighty, proud and arrogant, or extremely low and hopeless and depressed.

We pray at all times, and talk to God on every occasion and in every season. As we pray in the Spirit, the Holy Spirit will guide and help us to pray according to His will.

We will also stay alert in the Spirit, keeping our eyes open and do not give up in our faith while praying and waiting. We pray for believers in the family of God. We also pray for ourselves, and our family and friends, and even our enemies, if any.

In the case of Paul, he asked the believers to pray for him, “Pray for me too, and ask God to give me the right words as I boldly tell others about the Lord and as I explain to them that His salvation is for the Gentiles too. I am in chains now for preaching this message from God. But pray that I will keep on speaking out boldly for Him even here in prison, as I should.”

Even in the prison cells, Paul prayed. Alone. Not in prayer meetings. Not getting soaked. Not going into a frenzy. Not moving into a trance zone and doing weird things.

Paul prayed, knowing that he was a child of God, saved by grace through faith. His salvation was in Christ alone. He prayed according to the Word of God. Praying that His kingdom come, and His will be done. Not his own wants and desires. But the will of God be done.

Paul prayed in the Spirit with words that could not be uttered. Alone and quietly. Paul prayed at all times in the Spirit. He was staying alert in the Spirit, praying for all people with all kinds of prayers.

When we pray in the Spirit, we fully acknowledge that we are in total dependence upon the Lord. We admit that we are helpless and weak in our own strengths, but God will strengthen us and supply all our needs according to His riches in glory.

When we pray in the Spirit, we are living and moving in an attitude of prayer. Yes, praying without ceasing, everywhere we go and in everything we do. Simply maintaining an ongoing and constant attitude of simple childlike trust and dependence upon the Father. Praying in words that cannot be uttered. Always alone and quiet. In the Spirit.

If interested, please listen to this song Keep On Praying.

Written on 1 August 2026